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Home » NewsMr. President, what’s in your Budget tomorrow?
Tomorrow is the much-awaited Budget day. President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen here yesterday putting the final touches to the Budget 2023 document. He is expected to extensively analyse Sri Lanka’s worst-ever economic crisis and announce measures to overcome it.
President rejects request to extend terms of five envoys
Insists that retirement age of 60 must be followed By Damith Wickremasekara A request from the Foreign Ministry to grant permission for four ambassadors and one high commissioner to complete a three-year tenure beyond the retirement age of 60 has been turned down by the President’s Office. Permission had been sought for these heads of [...]
No action taken for several years against Lankan businessman accused of al-Qaeda financing
By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera and Bandula Sirimanne A Sri Lankan businessman, accused of financing al-Qaeda terrorism by the US authorities, came under the radar of local intelligence agencies some years ago, and his movements have been tracked since then, though no action was taken. Businessman Mohamad Irshad Mohamad Haris Nizar, a resident of China Fort [...]
Students’ insurance scheme slashed and restricted to low-income families
The cash-strapped government has reduced the school-going students’ Suraksha insurance coverage for the death of a parent or legal guardian to Rs 75,000 from Rs 200,000, with a mandatory clause that the students should be from low-income families to be eligible for the insurance claim. A revised circular to this effect was issued by the [...]
Police to probe imposters of fake MP
Parliament’s Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando has sought the help of the Inspector General of Police to investigate three people who posed as staff of a non-existing Member of Parliament and were allegedly involved in fraudulent activities. The three suspects had prepared identity cards claiming to be working for a Member of Parliament of the Trincomalee Electoral [...]
Millions spent on 9-member committee appointed to draft new constitution
The nine-member Expert Committee that was appointed to draft the new constitution had failed to compile the report within the specific deadline, while millions of taxpayers’ funds were spent for the proceedings and as allowances for the committee without securing proper approvals, an audit report has found. The report noted that drafting and submitting the [...]
Thilini Priyamali case: CID questions Gnanasara Thera
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera was questioned for nearly two-and-a-half hours by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last evening. He was questioned in relation to the investigation being conducted by the CID into the dealings of Thilini Priyamali, who is currently in remand custody on allegation of defrauding hundreds of millions [...]
Journalist’s plaint against 2 police officers: AG refers to lack of respect for law enforcement, urges court to consider lawlessness
The loss of respect for law enforcement officers among protesters was evident from recent events injuring 80 police personnel, the death of a sergeant in Kebitigollewa and the court officer of the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court being attacked by civilians for simply carrying out their lawful duties, the Attorney-General’s (AG) Department said in the Fort [...]
Gone, but not forgotten
The final rehearsal for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony (Poppy Day) was held yesterday at the war memorial next to the Colombo Public Library. The ceremony, which will be held today, honours Sri Lankan military personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Court of Appeal upholds High Court ruling on shipping dispute involving CPC
The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling by the Colombo High Court directing a Marshall Islands based shipping company to furnish a US$ one million bank guarantee in the case of a counterclaim filed by the owners of a ship for wrongful arrest. The vessel, “MT Agros”, belonging to Agros Shipping Company Ltd. in [...]
Only four Constitutional Council members for tomorrow’s Budget hearing
Others yet to be appointed; TPA Leader Mano Ganesan urges President Wickremesinghe to consider representing the country’s main communities Parliament is yet to appoint a majority of members to the ten-member Constitutional Council (CC), the key decision-making body established under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. It was hoped the seven Parliamentarians who were to [...]
United Nations Dispute Tribunal position – Sri Lankan in the fray for the first time
Sri Lanka will support the candidature of Justice Deepthi Amaratunga for the position of judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT). Voting for the position will take place at the sessions of the General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to garner diplomatic support for the appointment. [...]
X-Press Pearl disaster: Ship captain, local agent and six others indicted
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General has filed indictments in the Colombo High Court against eight accused over environmental damage caused to Sri Lanka’s coastline due to the X-Press Pearl disaster. The accused include the vessel’s captain and local agent. The AG has filed eight indictments against the accused under the Marine Pollution Prevention (MPP) [...]
8th Conference of the South Asian Association of Physiologists on this weekend
An interesting two-day conference in hybrid mode, physical and digital, on the theme ‘Discoveries and advances in physiology during challenging times’ is on this weekend (November 12 and 13) at the Mihilaka Medura, BMICH, Colombo. The 8th Conference of the South Asian Association of Physiologists (SAAP) is being hosted by the Physiological Society of Sri [...]
ILO, Norway to create jobs, livelihoods in Rs 698m northern project
By Kapila Bandara Two long-standing development partners of Sri Lanka are joining hands at a time the country is suffering the fallout of chronic macroeconomic imbalances, worsening food insecurity and poverty, job losses, and multiple other crises, to create decent work opportunities and introduce ways of making a living for vulnerable people in the Northern [...]
7 in 10 Lankans adopting food-coping strategies: WFP
Nearly seven in ten households — 68 percent of the country’s total population — are turning to food- coping strategies such as eating less preferred food, reducing the number of meals, and limiting portion sizes, according to the latest World Food Programme (WFP) survey. Around one-third (32 percent) of households are food insecure, and 3.4 [...]
One dead, two girls missing after fishing boat carrying 8 capsizes
The body of a 10-year-old girl was recovered while a search operation continued last evening to look for two other girls who went missing after the boat they were in capsized in Mahawelikada Ara tank in Sooriyawewa. The fishing boat had been carrying a group of eight when it capsized last afternoon. Five people including [...]
Rising taxes weigh heavy on minds of weary people ahead of budget
By Sohan Vipulananda and Senuka Jayakody Demands and expectations of Sri Lankans and trade unions are high ahead of the budget tomorrow, being presented in the context of the perilous state of Government finances, unprecedented joblessness among women, youth and informal workers, and record high food prices, after years of mismanagement by ruling political parties and [...]
Top doctors, activists hit out at interdiction of whistleblower on malnutrition
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The interdiction of a doctor and trade unionist who sent out a public warning on malnutrition has brought out strong protests from a gamut of organisations including trade unions, both health and in other fields. The interdiction of Medical Administrator Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa who stated that children in Suriyawewa in the south [...]
8th Conference of the South Asian Association of Physiologists on this weekend
An interesting two-day conference in hybrid mode, physical and digital, on the theme ‘Discoveries and advances in physiology during challenging times’ is on this weekend (November 12 and 13) at the Mihilaka Medura, BMICH, Colombo. The 8th Conference of the South Asian Association of Physiologists (SAAP) is being hosted by the Physiological Society of Sri [...]
Engineering equipment worth millions lying idle at Ruhuna Uni: Minister calls for report
By Yoshitha Perera The Higher Education State Ministry has called for an immediate report from Ruhuna University officials following reports that engineering equipment procured over the past twelve years by spending millions of rupees is unusable or lying idle. The university’s engineering faculty was set up more than two decades ago by the then Higher [...]
National Library: Dispute over Budget allocation brought to book
Library users and staff face severe difficulties; building houses millions of rupees worth of books, newspapers and valuable documents By Yoshitha Perera Despite spending millions on renovations, the National Library in Colombo, which is overseen by the National Library and Documentation Services Board (NLDSB), has remained unfinished for several years. The renovations began in 2018, with [...]
Tusker gifted by Thailand to be sent home for medical treatment
Activists and wildlife experts say elephant had been mistreated and abused By Kasun Warakapitiya A tusker gifted by Thailand to Sri Lanka will be sent back for medical treatment, a senior official said. Muthu Raja who was gifted in 2001 has been taken care of by the Kande Viharaya, in Aluthgama town. It was one [...]
Fraudster couple offering jobs at CEB for cash arrested by Thalangama Police
Thalangama Police have opened an investigation into complaints against a couple who offered jobs at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for money. They claimed to have connections with top CEB officials. The couple was arrested by Thalangama Police on Friday, on allegations of fraud. A complaint was recently lodged by a woman who had deposited [...]
Pera Arts Faculty reopens tomorrow as probes into ragging incidents continue
By L.B.Senaratne University of Peradeniya’s Arts Faculty that was closed following ragging incidents, will open tomorrow. Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Terrence Madhujith, told the Sunday Times that two independent inquiries were ongoing regarding the incidents that included new entrants to the university being forced to circulate pornography material. Following several recent incidents of ragging in [...]
Stage set for Lanka’s Climate Change Act and international university
Exclusive reports from Sharm el-Sheikh COP27 conference By Tharushi Weerasinghe reporting from Egypt Sri Lanka’s climate change-related plans include the establishment of a university for capacity building, and a climate change Act to regulate the mechanism. The Sunday Times learns that climate change-specific legislation, an Act to empower the Climate Change Secretariat with more authority and [...]
What is ‘loss and damage’ finance?
‘Loss and damage’ refers to climate change induced disasters and negative impacts that people have not been able to adapt to. Natural events such as floods which damage property and life are then the ‘losses and damages’ of that particular climate event. The resounding cry that developed countries which progressed at the cost of the [...]
Climate change ‘loss and damage’ payouts financing a sticking point
By Tharushi Weerasinghe reporting from Egypt In an historic first, discussions for the possibility of a separate financing facility for “loss and damage” was put on the agenda of this year’s United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) after nearly 30 years of negotiations. At the opening plenary session, Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was formally elected [...]
President launches Climate Prosperity Plan aiming 26.53 billion USD
By Malaka Rodrigo Sri Lanka has reiterated its call for climate compensation pointing out that his country is one of the worst affected by rising emissions from the industrialised world. The call was made when President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) of the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on [...]
Largest reclining Buddha statue set to be built
Story and pix by Sarath Chinthaka A historic temple located in Giriulla is getting attention again with a Buddha statue measuring 126 ft to be built on the top of a mountain in the temple premises. A moonstone (sandakada pahana) and a Dragon Gate (makara thorana) will also be constructed. The chief incumbent of the [...]
Bibile corn farmers rail against foreign firm’s land grab for sugar factory
By Yoshitha Perera A decades-long struggle that farmers have been waging against multinationals angling to acquire thousands of acres of lush state agricultural land in Bibile for a sugar factory is continuing. Farmer A.M. Gunabanda says a proposed sugarcane project involving the Government and private companies spells the end for his corn cultivation, which he [...]
Military therapy not deemed right for drug addicts
By Chrishanthi Christopher Last week’s riots at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for drug dependent prisoners at Kandakadu, during which more than 500 inmates escaped, has pushed the government to move amendments to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act quickly. Last Thursday, Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented the amendment to the Act which includes [...]
One escapee dies after admission to hospital, search on for others who fled
An inmate who was found in the dense forest in the area during search operations on Friday died after admission to hospital. Polonnaruwa hospital sources said he had died of starvation. The army was looking for 9 more inmates who had fled into in the thicket of the Somawathie forest surrounding the camp. On the [...]